Expect a partial veto
Permalink +Wed, Mar 10, 2004, 10:40 pm // John Servais
The 'Top 2' primary election bill has a poison pill in it. Our legislators tonight have changed just three words that will allow the Republican and Democratic party bosses to successfully challenge the law should Gov. Locke sign the bill. Ahh - but the legislators have worded the bill so Locke can veto parts of the bill and allow the Montana primary to take effect even before a political party lawsuit. A poison pill. I'm watching them live on ch. 23 right now.Your elected legislators are congratulating themselves right now on their crafting a bill that can be dismantled by the governor and then defeated by the political parties. They are openly stating these two possibilities. The have crafted a primary process that the party bosses want and wrapped it in 'Top 2' decorated paper that can be torn off and thrown away. I could be wrong - but that is what it looks like to me.
The Senate has passed the bill 36 to 12. Brandland voted for and Spanel voted against the bill. Both of them know their votes are a sham and the bill caters to the political parties. It now goes to Gov. Locke. Expect a partial veto.
8:00 am
The State Legislature is very silent on the fate of SB6453, the Primary Election bill. See below for prologue. Nothing in today's Bham Herald. The Seattle Times tells how the House worded the subsection allowing a Montana-style primary to allow Gov. Locke to veto the good primary process and allow the undemocratic election - one that allows the two political party bosses to control our elections. How cute.
The legislative website gives no information for events yesterday, nor any agenda for today. I haven't the time this morning to make the usual phone calls to staffers in Olympia to learn the off-the-record information. That is right. Last time I used a staffer's name she caught hell. Not supposed to tell us citizens what is happening.
What is happening? We are paying through our taxes for political party bosses to meet behind closed doors in our government buildings with our elected representatives to hack out a law that will deprive us of our democracy. Spanel, Linville - you can bet your bleeding-heart liberals are shoulder to shoulder with right-wingers Ericksen and Brandland to work out a bill that gets them off the hook and allows the political parties to prevail.
Tomorrow the legislature is scheduled to adjourn. The bill - in some form - will go to Gov. Locke. He threatens to veto any democracy-based primary election sections. He will leave the sections creating primaries controlled by the political parties. He is in the pocket of the of the political bosses.
What is our hope? The fear that our representatives have of us voters next November if they do not give us the 'Top 2' primary process. I urge you to phone your representative this morning and express your support for democracy and the 'Top 2' primary election process. Even 3 or 4 phone calls generated from this website will have a positive effect.
Related Links:
-> Primary Election Bill SB6453-> Seattle Times article
Comments
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No Locke on SB6453
Wed, Mar 31, 2004, 5:06 pm // John Servais
Gov. Locke is not scheduled to act on the primary election bill today. This the 20th day since the legislature adjourned and supposedly the last…0 comments
For those who are in awe of the ‘experts’ in Olympia
Tue, Mar 30, 2004, 5:12 pm // John Servais
For your morning entertainment. And for those who are in awe of the 'experts' in Olympia. Gov Locke vetoes three sections of a bill meant…0 comments
They all know they violated the public trust
Sun, Mar 28, 2004, 5:19 pm // John Servais
Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All…0 comments
Let the parties use the caucuses
Fri, Mar 19, 2004, 5:24 pm // John Servais
Gov. Locke has not acted on the primary election bill. No doubt he is wondering how his reputation will be hurt if he vetoes the…0 comments
Locke is working _with_ the party machines
Sun, Mar 14, 2004, 5:29 pm // John Servais
Today's Bham Herald editorial is well meaning but hopelessly ignorant of the process in Olympia. Naive may be a better word to describe their editorial…0 comments
Delays are due to secret bargaining
Sat, Mar 13, 2004, 5:42 pm // John Servais
Will Gov Locke veto the 'Top 2' primary process and allow the Montana process to become law? Probably, but not necessarily. He may sign the…0 comments
Expect a partial veto
Wed, Mar 10, 2004, 10:40 pm // John Servais
The 'Top 2' primary election bill has a poison pill in it. Our legislators tonight have changed just three words that will allow the Republican…0 comments
Voting against democracy
Tue, Mar 09, 2004, 6:04 pm // John Servais
We have Kelli Linville and Doug Ericksen voting against democracy and for the iron grip of the two political parties on our election process. Shame…0 comments
They always say they “suspended the rules”
Tue, Mar 09, 2004, 1:07 am // John Servais
SB6453 passed the House late this evening by a vote of 51 to 46. Now - if Gov. Locke will just sign it. More when…0 comments
Democracy on the line
Thu, Mar 04, 2004, 6:14 pm // John Servais
On Friday morning at 8 am, the WA House committee on government will hold a hearing on the "Top 2" primary election bill - Senate…0 comments
Top 2 primary election bill, SB6453
Wed, Mar 03, 2004, 6:17 pm // John Servais
- Senate Bill number 6453 - has passed the Washington State Senate by a vote of 28 to 20. This is the primary that allows…0 comments
Traffic and Western Washington University
Mon, Mar 01, 2004, 6:20 pm // John Servais
If WWU gets their way, $20 million in state taxes will be spent on jack-hammering out good roads and building new ones a hundred yards…0 comments
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